Visual connectivity of widgets using event propagation

ABSTRACT

A method, system and computer program product receive a set of objects for connection, create a moving object within the set of objects, display visual connection cues on objects in the set of objects, adjust the visual connection cues of the moving object and a target object in the set of objects, identify event propagation precedence, and connect the moving object with the target object.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to connectivity in a data processingsystem and more specifically to visual connectivity of objects usingevent propagation in the data processing system. Self-service mash-upand dashboard environments have gained attention in recent years. Thistype of environment enables users to address specific business needs toaide in solving business problems. An important and common feature inmash-up environments is widget connectivity. Widget connectivity isoften used by users to send information using a type of event mechanismfrom one widget to another specific widget or broadcast an event to allother widgets on the dashboard.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to embodiments of the invention, methods, system and computerprogram products receive a set of objects for connection, create amoving object within the set of objects, display visual connection cueson objects in the set of objects, adjust visual connection cues of themoving object and a target object, identify event propagationprecedence, and connect the moving object with the target object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is nowmade to the following brief description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like referencenumerals represent like parts.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary data processing systemoperable for various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a visual connection system in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a connection procedure using the visualconnection system of FIG. 2, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of connection orientation using the connectionprocedure of FIG. 3, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a high level view of a visual connection methodusing the visual connection system of FIG. 2, in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a detail view of the visual connection methodof FIG. 5, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although an illustrative implementation of one or more embodiments isprovided below, the disclosed systems and/or methods may be implementedusing any number of techniques. This disclosure should in no way belimited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniquesillustrated below, including the exemplary designs and implementationsillustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scopeof the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer-readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signalmedium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM), an optical storagedevice, or a magnetic storage device or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith the computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example,either in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagatedsignal may take a variety of forms, including but not limited toelectro-magnetic, optical or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wire line, optical fiber cable, RF, etc. or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java™, Smalltalk, C++, or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus,(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions.

These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer orother programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that theinstructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an articleof manufacture including instructions which implement the function/actspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational acts to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer-implemented method such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

In some examples, establishing one or more events may be a challengingexperience for an average business user. For example, establishingevents may require a level of technical knowledge and users have to dealwith complex dialogs, understand an event mechanism and payloads passedbetween the widgets to create own custom mash-ups.

Some mash-up environments have tried to address the issue by connectingall widgets together automatically as soon as the widgets are added to amash-up. Although simple cases are typically addressed the approachstill has major shortcomings. For example, as soon as users need toperform minor customization in the connectivity of the widgets, theusers still have to deal with complex settings and dialogs. In anotherexample, auto connectivity is typically only useful for applicationsusing a broadcast style of communication. Auto connectivity does notsatisfy requirements of applications that rely on point-to-point stylecommunication and also applications in which the order events are passedbetween widgets is important. Prior solutions have typically coupledwidgets using only metadata associated with the widgets. While someprevious solutions provided a good mashup environment that not onlyallowed widgets to be connected but also allowed data from differentwidget to be transformed the wiring task in environment and wiringinfrastructure was difficult to work with.

Turning now to FIG. 1 a block diagram of an exemplary data processingsystem operable for various embodiments of the invention is presented.In this illustrative example, data processing system 100 includescommunications bus 102, which provides communications between processorunit 104, memory 106, persistent storage 108, communications unit 110,input/output (I/O) unit 112, and display 114.

Processor unit 104 serves to execute instructions for software that maybe loaded into memory 106. Processor unit 104 may be a set of one ormore processors or may be a multi-processor core, depending on theparticular implementation. Further, processor unit 104 may beimplemented using one or more heterogeneous processor systems in which amain processor is present with secondary processors on a single chip. Asanother illustrative example, processor unit 104 may be a symmetricmulti-processor system containing multiple processors of the same type.

Memory 106 and persistent storage 108 are examples of storage devices116. A storage device is any piece of hardware that is capable ofstoring information, such as, for example without limitation, data,program code in functional form, and/or other suitable informationeither on a temporary basis and/or a permanent basis. Memory 106, inthese examples, may be, for example, a random access memory or any othersuitable volatile or non-volatile storage device. Persistent storage 108may take various forms depending on the particular implementation. Forexample, persistent storage 108 may contain one or more components ordevices. For example, persistent storage 108 may be a hard drive, aflash memory, a rewritable optical disk, a rewritable magnetic tape, orsome combination of the above. The media used by persistent storage 108also may be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be usedfor persistent storage 108.

Communications unit 110, in these examples, provides for communicationswith other data processing systems or devices. In these examples,communications unit 110 is a network interface card. Communications unit110 may provide communications through the use of either or bothphysical and wireless communications links.

Input/output unit 112 allows for input and output of data with otherdevices that may be connected to data processing system 100. Forexample, input/output unit 112 may provide a connection for user inputthrough a keyboard, a mouse, and/or some other suitable input device.Further, input/output unit 112 may send output to a printer. Display 114provides a mechanism to display information to a user.

Instructions for the operating system, applications and/or programs maybe located in storage devices 116, which are in communication withprocessor unit 104 through communications bus 102. In these illustrativeexamples the instructions are in a functional form on persistent storage108. These instructions may be loaded into memory 106 for execution byprocessor unit 104. The methods of the different embodiments may beperformed by processor unit 104 using computer-implemented instructions,which may be located in a memory, such as memory 106.

These instructions are referred to as program code, computer usableprogram code, or computer readable program code that may be read andexecuted by a processor in processor unit 104. The program code in thedifferent embodiments may be embodied on different physical or tangiblecomputer readable media, such as memory 106 or persistent storage 108.

Program code 118 is located in a functional form on computer readablemedia 120 that is selectively removable and may be loaded onto ortransferred to data processing system 100 for execution by processorunit 104. Program code 118 and computer readable media 120 form computerprogram product 122 in these examples. In one example, computer readablemedia 120 may be in a tangible form, such as, for example, an optical ormagnetic disc that is inserted or placed into a drive or other devicethat is part of persistent storage 108 for transfer onto a storagedevice, such as a hard drive that is part of persistent storage 108. Ina tangible form, computer readable media 120 also may take the form of apersistent storage, such as a hard drive, a thumb drive, or a flashmemory that is connected to data processing system 100. The tangibleform of computer readable media 120 is also referred to as computerrecordable storage media. In some instances, computer readable media 120may not be removable.

Alternatively, program code 118 may be transferred to data processingsystem 100 from computer readable media 120 through a communicationslink to communications unit 110 and/or through a connection toinput/output unit 112. The communications link and/or the connection maybe physical or wireless in the illustrative examples. The computerreadable media also may take the form of non-tangible media, such ascommunications links or wireless transmissions containing the programcode.

In some illustrative embodiments, program code 118 may be downloadedover a network to persistent storage 108 from another device or dataprocessing system for use within data processing system 100. Forinstance, program code stored in a computer readable storage medium in aserver data processing system may be downloaded over a network from theserver to data processing system 100. The data processing systemproviding program code 118 may be a server computer, a client computer,or some other device capable of storing and transmitting program code118.

The different components illustrated for data processing system 100 arenot meant to provide architectural limitations to the manner in whichdifferent embodiments may be implemented. The different illustrativeembodiments may be implemented in a data processing system includingcomponents in addition to or in place of those illustrated for dataprocessing system 100. Other components shown in FIG. 1 can be variedfrom the illustrative examples shown. The different embodiments may beimplemented using any hardware device or system capable of executingprogram code. As one example, the data processing system may includeorganic components integrated with inorganic components and/or may becomprised entirely of organic components excluding a human being. Forexample, a storage device may be comprised of an organic semiconductor.

As another example, a storage device in data processing system 100 maybe any hardware apparatus that may store data. Memory 106, persistentstorage 108 and computer readable media 120 are examples of storagedevices in a tangible form.

In another example, a bus system may be used to implement communicationsbus 102 and may be comprised of one or more buses, such as a system busor an input/output bus. Of course, the bus system may be implementedusing any suitable type of architecture that provides for a transfer ofdata between different components or devices attached to the bus system.Additionally, a communications unit may include one or more devices usedto transmit and receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter.Further, a memory may be, for example, memory 106 or a cache such asfound in an interface and memory controller hub that may be present incommunications bus 102.

Using data processing system 100 of FIG. 1 as an example, anillustrative embodiment provides the computer-implemented method storedin memory 106, executed by processor unit 104, for visual connectivityof objects using event propagation. Processor unit 104 receives a set ofobjects for connection from storage devices 116, communications unit110, or input/output unit 112. Processor unit 104 creates a movingobject within the set of objects and displays visual connection cues onobjects in the set of objects using display 114. Processor unit 104further adjusts visual connection cues of the moving object and a targetobject, identifies event propagation precedence and connects the movingobject with the target object.

In an alternative embodiment, program code 118 containing thecomputer-implemented method for visual connectivity of objects usingevent propagation may be stored within computer readable media 120 ascomputer program product 122. In another illustrative embodiment, themethod for visual connectivity of objects using event propagation may beimplemented in an apparatus comprising a communications bus, a memoryconnected to the communications bus, wherein the memory containscomputer executable program code, a communications unit connected to thecommunications bus, an input/output unit connected to the communicationsbus, a display connected to the communications bus, and a processor unitconnected to the communications bus. The processor unit of the apparatusexecutes the computer executable program code to direct the apparatus toperform the method.

With reference to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a visual connection system,in accordance with various embodiments of the invention is presented.Visual connection system 200 is an exemplary illustrative embodiment ofthe disclosed method.

In contrast with previous solutions, embodiments of the inventionaddress the problems previously described by providing an easy methodfor average business users to connect the widgets together. Illustrativeembodiments of the disclosed method typically enable business users tocustomize connectivity between widgets very easily without consideringhow communication is performed and specification of the order in whichwidgets communicate in a visual interaction.

Illustrative embodiments exploit physical connectivity and proximity ofwidgets using a visual environment. When users physically connect twowidgets capable of communicating with each other (for example, onewidget is a publisher of an event and the other widget is a subscriberof the event), the widgets will communicate immediately andautomatically without any further setup required by the user. Thecommunication is point-to-point between the two widgets. Other widgetscan also be connected to the just established group and depending onwhere the widgets are connected the order in which the widgets receivethe event differs. Illustrative embodiments of the disclosed method alsoprovide visual aids for users.

Visual connection system 200 is supported by a foundation of componentsof a data processing system such as data processing system 100 ofFIG. 1. Visual connection system 200 enhances an underlying dataprocessing providing components including visual cue builder 202,precedence manager 204, proximity detector 206, connection manager 208and object metadata 210. Embodiments of visual connection system 200 mayexist in various forms including a collection of components as shown ora monolithic composition of functions without limiting the capability ofthe disclosed method.

Visual cue builder 202 provides a capability to generate or selectpreviously created elements depicting a visual cue representing acommunication or connectivity capability of an object. For example, aninput connection capability may be provided in a user interfacerepresentation of an object as a form of receiving handle or connection.In another example a visual cue representing an output connection may beformed in the shape of an arrowhead, pointing outward from the body of awidget image. Visual cue builder 202 accesses information from objectmetadata 210 associated with an object; in the current example theobject represents a widget. The accessed information of object metadata210 contains a number of properties including a description the type ofconnectivity supported by the object and location of connections. Thelocation of connections is used to determine where to place the visualcue generated by visual cue builder 202 on a respective object. Forexample, location may be determined as one of top, bottom, left side orright side of the image representing the widget of the current example.

Precedence manager 204 provides a capability to determine and select inwhich order an object connection is performed. Determination ofprecedence includes whether ordering is required and when order isrequired to establish a connection in conformance with a prescribedorder. For example, precedence manager 204 uses information from objectmetadata 210 associated with an object to determine whether precedencesupport is required. When required, an ordering is identified andperformed. When a predetermined order cannot be fulfilled an error israised. Order may be determined by an event type or predeterminedspecification using precedence or dependency information derived frominformation in object metadata 210.

Proximity detector 206 provides a capability to determine a spatiallocation of an object relative to another object. For example, using thewidget example previously described, when a user selects a widget anddrags the selected widget toward another widget, proximity detector 206monitors the changing position of the widgets in relation to each other.When a predetermined distance between widgets is attained proximitydetector 206 provides a signal. For example, visual cue builder 202alters the visual cue created for a moving widget and a target widget toindicate a potential connection point being ready and active using thesignal.

Connection manager 208 provides a capability to form a connectionbetween objects or widgets in the current example. Specific operation ofconnection manager 208 is beyond the scope of the present disclosure.Connection manager 208 has capability to form connections according toconnection type, event type, and precedence order and to transform ofconvert between disparate connections. Objects to be connected arepresumed to have a connectivity capability. Connection manager 208cannot create a connection in situations where an object does notprovide a connectivity capability.

Connection manager 208 ensures a precedence order when such an order hasbeen determined by information in object metadata 210 or during aconnection operation performed by a user using the described method.

With reference to FIG. 3, a block diagram of a connection procedureusing the visual connection system of FIG. 2, in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention is presented. Visual connection procedure300 is an example of a method using visual connection system 200 of FIG.2.

In exemplary visual connection procedure 300 a series of operations forconnecting three widgets, widget 302, widget 304 and widget 306 togetherin a specific order is presented. In this example, the three widgets arecontained in a mashup environment, but more widgets or fewer widgets canbe considered equally well by the disclosed method. Visual connectionprocedure 300 progresses along a time line of time 316 through a seriesof operations S0, S1, S2, S3 and S4. The procedure commences when thethree widgets are received for processing as at time 316 of S0.

Initially a user has no information whatsoever on how the widgets cancommunicate with each other. In a common mashup environment typicallythe only way to determine how communication is accomplished requires theuser to view a properties dialog of widgets or some other dialogspecifically designed for communication with another widget. Widgets ofthe procedure in the example are processed using a movement from top tobottom and right to left as indicated by movement direction 308.

Using visual connection procedure 300 at time 316 of S1, as soon as theuser starts moving one of the widgets, for example widget 304 visualindications are made visible on the widgets that can publish orsubscribe to the events published or subscribed by the moving widgets.For example when widget 304 both publishes and subscribes an event avisual indication is exposed in the form of head and tail represented byvisual connection expose cue 310. Widget 302 only publishes and presentsonly a head portion represented by visual connection expose cue 310.Widget 306 only subscribes to the same event and therefore only presentsa tail portion represented by visual connection expose cue 310.

As seen at time 316 of S2 when widget 304 is moved closer to widget 302the connectors previously represented by visual connection expose cue310 become active and ready to be connected to each other and arerepresented by visual connection proximate cue 312. The visualrepresentation may be configured to suit an installation and servenotice to a user of the impending connectivity.

At time 316 of S3 the user has dropped widget 304 and the mouse has beenreleased widget 302 and widget 304 are connected. Visual connection cuesare no longer shown on widget 306. The enlarged visual representation ofvisual connection proximate cue 312 is not used and has been replaced byvisual connection connected cue 314.

At time 316 of S4 the user further connects widget 306 to widget 304following the same operations just described. The example illustrates aset of three widgets connected linearly but other numbers of widgets canbe connected in other arrangements as shown in further examples.

Using visual connection procedure 300, widget 302, widget 304 and widget306 did not have previous communications with each other are connectedusing only two drag gestures on a user interface while the user isguided with visual indications of available connectivity capability oneach the widget.

Furthermore, the widgets of the example of FIG. 3 are connected in aspecific order. Therefore when an application requires an order ofcommunication between widgets, a business user can typically perform thetask of connecting widgets properly. In another example, widget 1 is afilter widget enabling a user to pick a data item (for example, aproduct line or year), widget 2 is another filter widget, using the dataitem received as an event payload, displays available values for thatdata item (for example displaying years of: 2010, 2009, and 2008 andproduct lines of: home hardware and furniture) and widget 3 is a reportwidget filtering the data based on filter values received as a result ofa filter event (for example, when year value 2010 is received, datarelated to year 2010 is displayed and when the product line furniture isreceived, data related to furniture products and not all the products isdisplayed.

Users typically connect or put near one another, widgets believes to beconnected in some manner. The technique described in visual connectionprocedure 300 connects widgets automatically through events or othercommunication channel without the user having detailed knowledge ofcommunication protocols. An embodiment of visual connection procedure300 therefore enables a user to put widgets together while theapplication makes the widgets work together.

With reference to FIG. 4 a block diagram of connection orientation usingthe connection procedure of FIG. 3, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention is presented. Connection orientation 400 and connectionorientation 402 are examples of using visual connection procedure 300 toachieve different connection results.

In another illustrative embodiment, considering a location in whichwidgets are connected together for different purposes enhances visualconnection procedure 300 of FIG. 3. For example a scenario depends uponthe order an event is fired. Connection orientation 400 depicts widget404 having widget 406 on the right side with widget 408 on the bottom ofwidget 404, and widget 410 on the bottom of widget 406. Visualconnection connected cue 312 as previously seen in visual connectionprocedure 300 of FIG. 3 represents a connection has been made connectingeach widget to two other widgets.

When an interaction with widget 440 causes an event to be fired, widget406 first receives the event and widget 408 receives the eventafterwards. Widget 410 receives event information from widget 406 and408. The specific order can have a potentially different effect on theend result in widget 410 when the event is fired in a reverse order.

Connection orientation 402 depicts widget 404 having widget 406 on theright side with widget 408 on the bottom of widget 406, and widget 410on the bottom of widget 404. Visual connection connected cue 312 aspreviously seen in visual connection procedure 300 of FIG. 3 representsa connection made connecting each widget to two other widgets.

The connection orientation in connection orientation 402 represents aclockwise orientation. The specific orientation may be the result oforientation precedence or dependency information specified in objectmetadata 210 of visual connection system 200 of FIG. 2 associated withthe set of widgets. In another example, a user positioned the widgets ina specific arrangement to determine whether the arrangement waspermitted and the outcome was as desired. Metadata can specify whethermanual override of a predetermined orientation is permitted. Defaultarrangements can also be configured in addition to informationspecifying location by event type.

With reference to FIG. 5 a flowchart of a high level view of a visualconnection method using the visual connection system of FIG. 2, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention is presented. Method 500is an example of using an embodiment of visual connection system 200 ofFIG. 2 with visual connection procedure 300 of FIG. 3. The terms objectand widget are used interchangeably throughout the example, as before.

Method 500 begins (act 502) and receives a set of objects for connection(act 504). A set of objects for connection contains one or more widgetswherein each widget has a capability of connecting with at least oneother widget in the set. Widgets that are not capable of communicatingare filtered out of the set.

Responsive to a user moving an object in relation to other objects inthe set of objects method 500 creates a moving object (act 506). Objectmovement typically occurs using a mouse when performing a drag and dropoperation in a graphical user interface. Moving an object with intent toconnect with another object initiates processing of the visualconnection system.

Responsive to the movement of the moving object method 500 displaysvisual connection cues on objects in the set of objects (act 508).Visual cues representative of the connection supported by a widget aredisplayed in association with a respective widget. For example where awidget supports an input type event and output type event visual cuesindicative of both types are displayed with the widget in the userinterface.

As the moving object continues to move method 500 adjusts the visualcues of the moving object and a target object to indicate active andready state visual connection cues (act 510). A target object or widgetis typically determined by proximity detection. The closer a widget isto a moving object the more likely the widget is a target. For example,proximity sensitivity can be adjusted using proximity detector 206 ofvisual connection system 200 of FIG. 2.

Method 500 identifies event propagation precedence (act 512).Propagation precedence is typically determined by information containedin metadata associated with the set of objects. Propagation precedencemay be specified in the metadata of widgets but may be superseded byuser provided position ordering. Responsive to detecting a release ofthe moving object, method 500 connects the moving object with the targetobject (act 514). Method 500 sets visual cues for remaining objects inthe set of objects to non-display (act 516) and terminates thereafter(act 518).

With reference to FIG. 6 a flowchart of a detail view of the visualconnection method of FIG. 5, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention is presented.

Method 600 is a further detailed example of using an embodiment ofvisual connection system 200 of FIG. 2 with visual connection procedure300 of FIG. 3.

Method 600 begins (act 602) and receives a set of objects for connection(act 604). A set of objects for connection contains one or more widgetswherein each widget has a capability of connecting with at least oneother widget in the set.

Responsive to a user moving an object in relation to other objects inthe set of objects method 600 creates a moving object (act 606). Objectmovement typically occurs when a user using a mouse drags and drops anobject in a graphical user interface. Moving an object with intent toconnect with another object typically initiates processing in the scopeof the visual connection system.

Responsive to the movement of the moving object method 600 displaysvisual connection cues on objects in the set of objects (act 608).Visual cues representative of the connection supported by a widget aredisplayed with a respective widget. For example where a widget supportsan input type event and output type event visual cues indicative of bothtypes are displayed with the widget in the user interface. Typicallyvisual connection cues for a widget are displayed about thecircumference of the widget. Other forms of associative display may alsobe used; for example, when a list of possible connections is present thelist may be collapsed to indicia, which flare out when rolled over by amouse to display members.

Method 600 monitors proximity of the moving object to a target object(act 610). A target object or widget is typically determined byproximity detection. The closer a widget is to a moving object the morelikely the widget is a target. For example, proximity sensitivity can beadjusted using proximity detector 206 of visual connection system 200 ofFIG. 2. Method 600 determines whether the moving object is within apredefined distance of the target object (act 612). A predefineddistance is typically provided using metadata for the graphical userinterface of the method of the visual connection system. When adetermination is made that the moving object is not within a predefineddistance of the target object a “no” result is obtained and method 600loops back to perform act 610 as before.

When a determination is made that the moving object is within apredefined distance of the target object a “yes” result is obtained andas the moving object continues to move method 600 adjusts the visualcues of the moving object and a target object to indicate active andready state visual connection cues (act 614).

Method 600 determines whether event propagation is permitted (act 616).Propagation precedence and permission is typically determined byinformation contained in metadata associated with the set of objects.Propagation precedence may be specified in the metadata of widgets butmay be superseded by user provided position ordering. When adetermination is made that the event propagation is not permitted (orderis contrary to event precedence or produces an error) method 600 loopsback to perform act 606 as before.

When a determination is made that the event propagation is permittedmethod 600, responsive to detecting a release of the moving object,connects the moving object with the target object using eventpropagation precedence (act 618). Method 600 sets visual cues forremaining objects in the set of objects to non-display (act 620) andterminates thereafter (act 622).

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing a specified logical function. It should also be noted that,in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blockmight occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of embodiments of the present invention has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to beexhaustive or limited to the embodiments in the form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of theembodiments of the invention. The embodiments are chosen and describedin order to best explain the principles of the invention and thepractical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the artto understand the invention for various embodiments with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Embodiments of the invention can take the form of an entirely hardwareembodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containingboth hardware and software elements. In one embodiment, the invention isimplemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware,resident software, microcode, and other software media that may berecognized by one skilled in the art.

While the present invention have been described in the context of afully functioning data processing system, those of ordinary skill in theart will appreciate that the processes of the present invention arecapable of being distributed in the form of a computer readable mediumof instructions and a variety of forms and that the present inventionapplies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearingmedia actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computerreadable media include recordable-type media, such as a floppy disk, ahard disk drive, a RAM, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, and transmission-type media,such as digital and analog communications links, wired or wirelesscommunications links using transmission forms, such as, for example,radio frequency and light wave transmissions. The computer readablemedia may take the form of coded formats that are decoded for actual usein a particular data processing system.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution.

Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards,displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system eitherdirectly or through intervening I/O controllers.

Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the dataprocessing system to become coupled to other data processing systems orremote printers or storage devices through intervening private or publicnetworks. Modems, cable modems, and Ethernet cards are just a few of thecurrently available types of network adapters.

The description of embodiments of the present invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description, and is notintended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments are chosen and describedin order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practicalapplication, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art tounderstand the invention for various embodiments with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

1. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving a set of objectsfor connection; creating, by a computing device, a moving object withinthe set of objects; displaying, by the computing device, visualconnection cues on objects in the set of objects; adjusting, by thecomputing device, the visual connection cues of the moving object and atarget object in the set of objects; identifying event propagationprecedence; and connecting the moving object with the target objectbased on the identified event propagation precedence.
 2. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein creating a moving objectwithin the set of objects further comprises: creating responsive to amovement of an object in relation to other objects in the set ofobjects.
 3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, whereindisplaying visual connection cues on objects in the set of objectsfurther comprises: displaying responsive to the movement of the movingobject.
 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein adjustingvisual connection cues of the moving object and a target object furthercomprises: determining whether the moving object is within a predefineddistance of the target object; and indicating active and ready statevisual connection cues responsive to a determination that the movingobject is within a predefined distance of a target object.
 5. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying eventpropagation precedence further comprises: determining whether eventpropagation is permitted.
 6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,wherein connecting the moving object with the target object furthercomprises: using event propagation precedence responsive to a release ofthe moving object; and hiding visual connection cues for remainingobjects in the set of objects.
 7. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 1, further comprising: determining whether more connections arerequired; and responsive to a determination that more connections arerequired creating a moving object within the set of objects responsiveto a movement of an object in relation to other objects in the set ofobjects.
 8. A computer program product for visual connectivity ofobjects using event propagation, the computer-program productcomprising: a computer readable medium containing computer executableprogram code stored thereon, the computer executable program codecomprising: computer executable program code to receive a set of objectsfor connection; computer executable program code to create a movingobject within the set of objects; computer executable program code todisplay visual connection cues on objects in the set of objects;computer executable program code to adjust visual connection cues of themoving object and a target object in the set of objects; computerexecutable program code to identify event propagation precedence; andcomputer executable program code to connect the moving object with thetarget object based on the identified event propagation precedence. 9.The computer program product of claim 8, wherein computer executableprogram code to create a moving object within the set of objects furthercomprises: computer executable program code to create responsive to amovement of an object in relation to other objects in the set ofobjects.
 10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein computerexecutable program code to display visual connection cues on objects inthe set of objects further comprises: computer executable program codeto display responsive to the movement of the moving object.
 11. Thecomputer program product of claim 8, wherein computer executable programcode to adjust visual connection cues of the moving object and a targetobject further comprises: computer executable program code to determinewhether the moving object is within a predefined distance of a targetobject; and computer executable program code responsive to adetermination that the moving object is within a predefined distance ofa target object to indicate active and ready state visual connectioncues.
 12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein computerexecutable program code to identify event propagation precedence furthercomprises: computer executable program code to determine whether eventpropagation is permitted.
 13. The computer program product of claim 8,wherein computer executable program code to connect the moving objectwith the target object further comprises: computer executable programcode to use event propagation precedence responsive to a release of themoving object; and computer executable program code to hide visualconnection cues for remaining objects in the set of objects.
 14. Thecomputer program product of claim 8, further comprising: computerexecutable program code to determine whether more connections arerequired; and computer executable program code responsive to adetermination that more connections are required to create a movingobject within the set of objects responsive to a movement of an objectin relation to other objects in the set of objects.
 15. An systemcomprising: a processor unit, display and memory, each connected to acommunications bus; computer executable program code stored in saidmemory, wherein the processor unit executes the computer executableprogram code to direct the system to: receive a set of objects forconnection; create a moving object within the set of objects; displayvisual connection cues on objects in the set of objects; adjust thevisual connection cues of the moving object and a target object;identify event propagation precedence; and connect the moving objectwith the target object based on the identified event propagationprecedence.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor unitexecutes the computer executable program code to direct the system tocreate a moving object within the set of objects further directs thesystem to: create responsive to a movement of an object in relation toother objects in the set of objects.
 17. The system of claim 15, whereinthe processor unit executes the computer executable program code todirect the system to display visual connection cues on objects in theset of objects further directs the system to: display responsive to themovement of the moving object.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein theprocessor unit executes the computer executable program code to directthe system to adjust visual connection cues of the moving object and atarget object further directs the system to: determine whether themoving object is within a predefined distance of a target object; andindicate active and ready state visual connection cues responsive to adetermination that the moving object is within a predefined distance ofa target object.
 19. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor unitexecutes the computer executable program code to direct the system toidentify event propagation precedence further directs the system to:determine whether event propagation is permitted.
 20. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the processor unit executes the computer executableprogram code to direct the system to connect the moving object with thetarget object further directs the system to: use event propagationprecedence responsive to a release of the moving object; and hide visualconnection cues for remaining objects in the set of objects.